It shapes how people retire.
How families build wealth.
How businesses grow.
And how legacies are preserved.
Yet despite its impact, the industry remains overwhelmingly male — at the very moment when women control more wealth than ever before.
This is not a coincidence.
And it is no longer sustainable.
The Numbers Tell a Clear Story
- Women are projected to control over $30 trillion in financial assets in the U.S. by 2030, driven by earnings, inheritance, and longevity
Source: McKinsey & Company, “Women as the Next Growth Market” - Women already influence or control the majority of household financial decisions in the United States
Source: Boston Consulting Group, Global Wealth reports - Only ~23–25% of financial advisors in the U.S. are women
Source: CFP Board, U.S. Workforce Data - Less than 18% of leadership roles in wealth management firms are held by women
Source: McKinsey & Company, Financial Services Diversity Reports - More than 70% of women clients say they prefer working with an advisor who understands their life context, not just products and returns
Source: Cerulli Associates, U.S. Retail Investor Research
The conclusion is unavoidable:
Women control the capital — but are missing from the advisory table.
Why Women Belong in Financial Advisory
Women bring perspectives the industry urgently needs.
Research shows women advisors are more likely to:
- take a holistic, long-term planning approach
- focus on education and clarity rather than intimidation
- understand life transitions such as caregiving, career breaks, divorce, inheritance, and longevity
- build trust-based, multi-generational client relationships
This aligns directly with what modern clients want.
Women are not a diversity initiative in finance.
They are a strategic growth solution.
Breaking the Myth: “Finance Isn’t for Me”
One of the biggest barriers keeping women out of financial advisory is perception — not capability.
Many women believe:
- they need a finance or economics background
- the role is primarily sales-driven
- success requires aggressive or transactional behavior
In reality, the fastest-growing advisory models prioritize:
- relationship-building
- communication
- education
- long-term thinking
Skills women already bring.
The Opportunity Ahead
Financial advisory remains one of the few professions that offers:
- income scalability
- long-term, values-based client relationships
- flexibility and autonomy
- intellectual challenge
- the ability to shape real generational outcomes
For women seeking a career that blends finance, leadership, and purpose, this industry represents one of the most underutilized opportunities of our time.
The Lotus Perspective
At Lotus Women’s Institute, we see financial advisory as more than a career path.
We see it as:
- a leadership platform
- a wealth-building vehicle
- a space where women can shape systems — not just navigate them
Women don’t belong in this industry someday.
They are needed now.
Ready to Explore a Career Where Finance Meets Purpose?
If this article sparked curiosity — or a quiet “what if?” — that matters.
Are you ready to talk today about:
- whether financial advisory could be a path for you
- how women successfully enter and grow in this industry
- what skills you already have — and how they translate
- how to build a career aligned with impact and long-term wealth
Our team is ready to have that conversation with you — today.
You don’t need all the answers.
You just need the right conversation.
Book a call with the Lotus team.
We’re waiting for you.
Meet the Author: Anita Knotts